Tacoma/Pierce County HOV Construction Update

The Washington State Department of Transportation reports the following construction activities and traffic impacts associated with the I-5 – Portland Avenue to Port of Tacoma Road – Southbound HOV project:

This project is the final HOV project that builds a new southbound I-5 bridge across the Puyallup River and rebuilds the L Street overpass, and widens I-5 to install and complete the HOV system on I-5 in Tacoma.

Wednesday, February 27

• Northbound I-5 exit 134 to Portland Avenue will close from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. Thursday.
• Eastbound SR 16 ramp to southbound I-5 will close from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. Thursday.
• Northbound I-5 exit 132 will close from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. Thursday.

Thursday, February 28

• Northbound I-5 exit 134 to Portland Avenue will close from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. Friday.
• Eastbound SR 16 ramp to southbound I-5 will close from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. Friday.
• Northbound I-5 exit 132 will close from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. Friday.

Friday, March 1

• Southbound I-5 exit 132A to South 38th Street will close from 11:59 p.m. to 7 a.m. Saturday. Drivers on southbound I-5 will detour to the South 56th Street interchange, back to northbound I-5, and proceed to exit 132.

Why are these closures necessary?

• On I-5 between Port of Tacoma Road and Portland Avenue, contractor crews are starting work on the final HOV project that builds a new southbound I-5 bridge across the Puyallup River. Crews will implement overnight lane, ramp and local street closures to establish work zones throughout the project. Some work is weather dependent and could be rescheduled.
• Contractor crews are building a new alignment for southbound I-5 near the SR 16 interchange. The new alignment makes room for direct connect HOV lanes to be built between the two highways. To do this work, southbound I-5 traffic is shifted onto a temporary alignment. Crews are installing barrier, which requires closing the eastbound SR 16 ramp to southbound I-5. Crews will also install signs and refresh the lane striping when the weather allows.

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